We always say Pakistan are an unpredictable side and today showed why. Pakistan were coming into this game on the back of an great victory against Sri Lanka but were brought back to earth by an spirited performance by Canada. It was Shahid Afridi again who did the damage with the ball as he took 5 wickets for 23 runs off his 10 overs as they won this match by 46 runs.
Pakistan did win the toss and elect to bat first. But Canada bowled really well. Hafeez again made an quick start but once again fell quickly as went out for 12. He was the start of Pakistan losing wickets at regular intervals as they could not get any partnerships running. Shehzad was the next man out he only made 12 then the big wicket of Younus Khan went for only 6 runs and then Kamran Akmal could not play his natural innings which is taken on the bowlers and was out for 16 off 38 balls as Pakistan slumped to 67-4.
It brought in Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal into the crease. They had to do a rebuilding job while keeping the score ticking over. The only way to do that is to make small targets and build a partnership as they had overs and time on there hand. Which to there credit they did they stopped the flow of wickets and got a partnership going. They got to 100 at the half way stage of the allotted overs and they reached the 50 partnership off 90 balls. Because they were in they were getting use to the pitch and were playing solid but unspectacular cricket.
Just as the innings was looking to get back on track Canada struck again Umar Akmal got an straight ball and was out LBW for 48 runs. He hit 4 fours and 1 six. Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq tried to continue where Umar Akmal left off where Afridi attacked while Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings but Misbah-ul-Haq fell at the score of 37. Pakistan were 165-6.
Shahid Afridi did try his best in trying to hit a quick 50 but he fell at the score of 20 off 17 balls. The rest of the tail followed suit very soon afterwards as Pakistan were bowled out for 184. It was an impressive bowling display by Canada as the wickets were shared out. Baidwan got 3 wickets as Cheema, Rao and Hansra got 2 each and Osinde got 1. This left Canada an chance of getting there first major victory in world cup history.
It didnt start off to well for Canada as they lost there opening batsman to the 2 opening bowlers as Gunasekera got LBW for 8 off Gul's bowling. Kumar was then bowled for 2 runs as they were 16-2. Surkari and Bagai were in and there job was to steady the innings along. They did this to an certain extend. The good thing for Canada was that they had time on there hands. It was slow progress and unspectacular but it was solid by these 2. They were hitting away the bad balls and taking singles and twos when it came there way. It brought on Afridi into the attack as they needed wickets and as he has done in his first 2 matches he did it again as he trapped Bagai for 16 runs.
It brought out Hansra to the crease. Hansra looked to be there most positive batsman. He is an busy player who is looking to hit the gaps and keep the score ticking over. Surkari at the other end was playing more of a defensive innings in trying to not loss his wicket. This tactic looked to be moving along nicely as the runs were coming a bit quicker but it was an dangerous ploy if Hansra plays too attacking he will loss his wicket and Surkari to defensive he will get out for a low score and eat up to much time. But these 2 were getting the balance right as the runs were coming and the they didnt look like giving up there wicket.
They were playing so well that on there way to a 50 partnership they were getting boundaries and were pushing the run rate up. They then reached there 50 partnership off 81 balls. They were going at impressive rate. To reach 100 runs Hansra hit an massive straight drive 6 to make it 103-3 but a run later Surkari got LBWed in front and he was out for an patient 27 off 67 balls which had 2 fours in it. Canada were 103-4.
This also brought back Afridi back into the attack and a string of tight overs built pressure on Canada again. The pressure paid off as Cheema (the new man) tried to play against the spin and missed the bowl completely and was bowled by Afridi. 3 runs later Afridi got the key wicket as he bowled Hansra. It was an similar ball to the one Cheema got he also missed and Afridi bowled him as well.
Pakistan could taste victory now and Afridi could taste an 5 wicket hall. He was also chasing an hat-trick as he bowled Baidwan first ball as Canada challenge was fading away to another disappointing defeat. Afridi could not get the hat-trick but did get 5 wickets as got Gordon out for 9. Afridi rounded off a good captains performance (and man of the match)with an super run out of Rao for just 1. The come back was complete when Riaz bowled Osinde for 0. They were bowled out for 138 all out. Canada went from 104-3 to 138 all out. So they lost by an healthy margin of 48 runs.
Afridi was the pick of the bowlers getting 5-23 off his 10 and Razzaq, Gul, Ajmal, Riaz got all one wicket. Hafeez will be disappointed not to get anything wickets in the end. Pakistan have nearly got them selves through to the quarter finals one more victory should be enough. They play New Zealand next at Kandy next Tuesday as Canada move to play at the capital of India to play Kenya. That will be probably be for the wooden spoon match. (who will finish bottom) Not very impressive my Pakistan but they got the job done.
In the other World Cup match today South Africa eased past the Netherlands. The Netherlands invited South Africa to bat and South Africa took full advantage of the batting conditions. Amla the opener (and number 1 ODI batsman) scored 113 runs off 130 balls which included 8 boundaries but the star of the show was again de Villiers scoring an wonderful 134. He got that within 98 balls and included 13 fours and 4 sixes and Duminy scored an quick fire 40 within 15 balls including 2 fours and 4 sixes. As South Africa made an imposing 351-5.
The Netherlands never looked like chasing down that score. They lost a couple of wickets early on and the only resistance came from Barresi who scored an useful 44. But none of the other batsman made more than 15 runs and the Netherlands fell well short. They only mustard 120 runs. They lost by an massive margin of 213 runs. The bowling of South Africa looked impressive as well as the wickets were nicely shared out. Tahir got 3, Kallis and Peterson got 2 and Duminy and Steyn got 1 each. An very impressive victory and closing in on a place in the quarter finals and looking good for finishing top of the group.
South Africa face England in Chennai on Sunday as they play an day match there. Surely victory there will conform there passage to the next round while the Netherlands face India at the capital in Dehli.
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